Should my engine leak oil?

for questions and answers about alternative power transplants on the T25, GTi, Porsche,Subaru etc, this is the place. You must register to post but anyone can read.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

nin73
Registered user
Posts: 26
Joined: 03 Jun 2013, 10:21
80-90 Mem No: 12406
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Should my engine leak oil?

Post by nin73 »

Hi Guys,

Just spent a good load of hard earned cash on my camper with my local garage having the gearbox sorted. It had a what i can explain as a swelling of oil around the gearbox area before the gearbox was removed. Since the work i have noticed a reasonable patch of oil on my driveway which was not happening before. Rang the garage and they mentioned that the beetle engines leak oil and its nothing to worry about.
1988 High Top. 1.9 DG

jamesandtheopenroad
Registered user
Posts: 693
Joined: 23 May 2010, 20:46
80-90 Mem No: 8279
Location: London

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by jamesandtheopenroad »

Why would VW build an engine that leaked oil. Oil seal not working somewhere between engine and gearbox I would imagine. Someone with more knowledge than me will be along shortly I'm sure, but I'm guessing a trip back to your garage and some firm words will be coming...
"our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt" Mr W Shakespeare

1990 VW T25 Transporter
1.9 DG 78ps
LPG'd by Gasure

tforturton
Registered user
Posts: 2178
Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 23:06
80-90 Mem No: 11177
Location: Cardiff

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by tforturton »

They haven't fitted the gearbox oil seal properly, by the sound of it. Get the van back down there, and tell them to do it again. They shouldn't charge you, as they clearly didn't take enough care the first time round.
1990 2.1 DJ Syncro Caravelle/Westfalia conversion RHD

User avatar
AdrianC
Registered user
Posts: 2975
Joined: 29 Dec 2010, 21:57
80-90 Mem No: 9144
Location: Living in Hay whilst the Sun pours down.
Contact:

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by AdrianC »

jamesandtheopenroad wrote:Why would VW build an engine that leaked oil.

It worked for the British motorcycle industry... <grin>
A year and a half living in a Westy hightop... http://www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

User avatar
Ian Hulley
Registered user
Posts: 12661
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
80-90 Mem No: 1323
Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by Ian Hulley »

Tell them to change the oil seal properly then (once satisfied) change your garage.

Ian
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure

mazz
Registered user
Posts: 82
Joined: 07 Nov 2006, 00:13
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: telford

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by mazz »

There is a chance your input shaft bearing in crank is u/s causing excessive play in input shaft and damaging input shaft seal, try to establish if it is engine oil or gearbox oil that is leaking, place some white card under van to check colour of oil
MV Engineering LTD
01952 581818 mveservices@hotmail.co.uk

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12425
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by itchyfeet »

I think you need to explain to us what'd you asked the garage to do and ask them what they did before going further
Exactly where on the gearbox was the the oil leak before

As said try and find out if its gearbox or engine oil gearbox oil has a very strong smell
No point complaining to the garage if its a different fault

Also its not a beetle engine :roll:
Last edited by itchyfeet on 11 Sep 2013, 16:56, edited 2 times in total.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks

User avatar
AdrianC
Registered user
Posts: 2975
Joined: 29 Dec 2010, 21:57
80-90 Mem No: 9144
Location: Living in Hay whilst the Sun pours down.
Contact:

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by AdrianC »

itchyfeet wrote:Also its not a beetle engine :roll:

In the grand scheme of things, it is.
A year and a half living in a Westy hightop... http://www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

nin73
Registered user
Posts: 26
Joined: 03 Jun 2013, 10:21
80-90 Mem No: 12406
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by nin73 »

The original work was to fix the gearbox as it was bothched by previous owner. At the same time they replaced the clutch.

I noticed it was slight weeping oil underneath and mentioned this at the time. I have taken it back and he mentioned it is the main seal between the engine and the flywheel that has gone. Bearing in mind the original work was done 2 weeks ago. I now have to fork out another £250
1988 High Top. 1.9 DG

User avatar
AdrianC
Registered user
Posts: 2975
Joined: 29 Dec 2010, 21:57
80-90 Mem No: 9144
Location: Living in Hay whilst the Sun pours down.
Contact:

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by AdrianC »

nin73 wrote:The original work was to fix the gearbox as it was bothched by previous owner. At the same time they replaced the clutch.

I noticed it was slight weeping oil underneath and mentioned this at the time. I have taken it back and he mentioned it is the main seal between the engine and the flywheel that has gone. Bearing in mind the original work was done 2 weeks ago. I now have to fork out another £250

That's more than a bit shoddy on his part. Putting a new seal in at the time would have been very little extra work.
A year and a half living in a Westy hightop... http://www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

nin73
Registered user
Posts: 26
Joined: 03 Jun 2013, 10:21
80-90 Mem No: 12406
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by nin73 »

thing is it is a very reputable independent vw specialist that is doing the work.

They did mention that it wouldn't have made any difference with my work as i had the gearbox section out of the engine and not the flywheel section out.
1988 High Top. 1.9 DG

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12425
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by itchyfeet »

The gearbox has to come off to get to the flywheel so it would be easy to do the flywheel/crank seal at the same time

You said this was not leaking this bad before did you ask them to look for the oil leak?
If you did then they should have done it

If it was just conversation and not leaking badly then they may have misunderstood what work you wanted done
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks

nin73
Registered user
Posts: 26
Joined: 03 Jun 2013, 10:21
80-90 Mem No: 12406
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by nin73 »

i have checked my list of work done and they have charged me for a rear main seal. Where would this be located?
1988 High Top. 1.9 DG

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12425
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by itchyfeet »

There is a seal on the input shaft to the gearbox
I'm not sticking up for them but its possible that the crank seal wasn't leaking badly at the time and so may not have been obvious
You said yourself it wasn't leaking like that before

Sniff the oil to be surewhich seal has failed
If you are unsure sniff the dipstick to compare
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12425
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Should my engine leak oil?

Post by itchyfeet »

Snap

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=122944" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks

Post Reply